How are you marking your rulers and various supplies when you take a class or belong to a guild. I have just "lost" another ruler, it was either taken by mistake or...I have called everyone who was at the table with me but my ruler is just plain gone and I will have to buy another. I want to use a sharpie but I dont want to put my initials or name where I will have a hard time reading the increments. I dont mind loaning when we are all at the same table but it is getting expensive when I dont get them back. :cry:

try a piece of painter's tape with your name on it. If it gets in the way, you can reposition it fairly easily. I have never lost a utensil but I am somewhat "stingy" with mine and keep an eagle eye on them for the very reason you described.

Yes! At first I thought someone will see they have it by mistake and ask if it belongs to someone but that never happened. I buy the best tools I can and I don't mind sharing any of them but please return them. I have started taking lesser quality tools to classes and workshops now. And strange I never see the my tools that were lost being used in the classes again. This tells me the person knows it's not theirs.

Use the rulers with a 'lip' and put your name there...
or use something to scratch your name or engrave your name.
I do use Sharpie's on my scissors, tape measures, pin cushions, cutting mats, etc
And if anybody thinks you are paranoid, just say the name is there so YOU can find your things amongst all the others - you are making it easier on yourself - not thinking anyone else is a thief.... besides there are many of the same rulers brought to class/guild so I don't see a thing wrong with having stuff marked - I'd feel terrible if I grabbed somebody else's stuff and waltzed off with it...

Of course you don't want to replace tools...they are expensive and that goes without saying. I sense that you really don't like thinking what you're thinking about the people that were there when you last remember having the tool... this is where my heart goes when my head takes a break from trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance. Some things that have worked for me in similar situations: "Decorating" tools with bright stickers that can't be missed or ignored...no name but definitely identifiable, Being one of the first to gather up for packing, Asking the entire group to help me keep up with my tools since I've been misplacing things so often of late, Setting example by always asking before using someone's tool...use their name when you borrow it and when you return it and make sure (without being obvious) that others hear you, and not having more tools out than necessary at any given time. I just know that I feel better when I don't make it easy for others to do what they shouldn't do...they make it so uncomfortable for those who happen to be around when they mess up. I hope this helps, but even more, I hope you're never put in this position again.

I have bought a whole bunch of the waxed thread book thongs, and I use one of those to decorate EVERYTHING that I take to class. Once looped on, the waxed thread is tight, and not easily removed (either unlooped or cut)....you can, at a glance, see the thread and the bauble beads ........and everyone at class knows they are mine..............for the rulers, I do use a sharpie on the edge ( in the last inch or 1/2 inch ) so that it does not interfere with measurements. I also take a plastic container with handle to class (square ones that run about $15 @ Joanns - and keep it on the table behind my machine. Rulers, scissors, etc. get dropped back in that box, not laid on the table.

These are great suggestions. I too have had items disappear at classes and UFO nights. When my friends used to come to my house to sew, I would tell them to bring their machines, thread, and fabric. I would provide everything else. This way, I wouldn't have to be responsible for getting their tools back to them if they forgot and they would not have to worry about taking something of mine. It worked pretty good. It was also nice not to have to worry about packing up everything from our own sewing room each time we could go to each others' houses to sew.